YCC members doing work at Shenandoah River State Park. Credit: Va. State Parks.

Got a kid into the outdoors? Applications are being accepted for two three-week summer sessions of the award-winning Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps. The application deadline is March 1.

The program will be held June 25 to July 15 and July 23 to Aug. 13.

Teams of 10 participants will be chosen from current high school students between the ages of 14 and 17. Each same-sex crew is led by three trained, adult crew leaders. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in protecting Virginia’s environment. While no prior experience is necessary, participants will work outside, and the service is physically demanding. A positive attitude, an interest in learning, curiosity about interpreting nature, and the physical ability and desire to work outdoors are also important factors in the selection process.

YCC crew members are provided room, board, T-shirts and equipment. They receive a $500 stipend at the end of the three weeks. YCC participants help with assorted park projects, including wildlife and fisheries habitat improvement, trail and campground construction and restoration, timber and shoreline improvement, and landscape beautification. The YCC is modeled after the federal service program AmeriCorps and the depression era Civilian Conservation Corps that built the original six Virginia State Parks.

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